In a year marked by regional tension and shifting alliances, one relationship has remained consistent: the strategic partnership between China and Pakistan. This month, China reaffirmed that commitment in no uncertain terms. In a televised statement, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi restated support for Pakistan’s sovereignty and national dignity. Shortly after, Victor Gao—President of the Center for China and Globalization—went even further, stating that China would defend Pakistan in the event of a threat to its territorial integrity.
This alignment has long underpinned the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and it continues to shape real-world development. While these statements made headlines, the results are already visible on the ground—in Gwadar.
Gwadar’s 20MW Power Project Breaks Ground
Work has begun on a 20-megawatt (MW) power supply project for Gwadar Port and Gwadar Free Zone South. The project, funded under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP), is valued at Rs 727 million and includes four 5 MW feeders connected to the Deep Sea Port grid.
According to officials, power poles and high-capacity cabling have already arrived on-site. Installation is underway, with completion targeted for June 2025. Once operational, the system will provide long-term energy stability for Gwadar Port and reduce its reliance on diesel-powered generation, which has been expensive and limited in capacity.
This is a major upgrade for Free Zone South—an area that has long required infrastructure improvements to unlock its commercial potential fully. Energy delivery is a fundamental step in making that happen.
CPEC Infrastructure Work Continues in Balochistan
This power project is part of a larger wave of ongoing CPEC activity. On May 12, Pakistan’s Planning Minister chaired a high-level CPEC progress review, with specific updates tied to Gwadar and southern Balochistan.
Key developments include:
- Active installation of 15,000 solar power units across 29 districts in Balochistan
- Transmission line upgrades being prioritised to support water infrastructure in Gwadar
- Federal coordination on operationalising the Gwadar desalination plant
- Preparations for the upcoming Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting with China in June
These initiatives confirm that Gwadar remains central to Pakistan’s strategic priorities—and that Chinese-backed development is still being delivered in phases, even amid global volatility.
Why Gwadar’s Investment Outlook Is Strengthening
China’s support for Pakistan has never been limited to diplomacy. It’s a long-term, multidimensional alignment, and Gwadar remains the anchor point. From roads to power to water, the infrastructure that underpins future growth is being installed. What was once a geopolitical theory is now physical delivery.
For CPIC investors, this is not just reassurance—it’s evidence. Evidence that Gwadar continues to matter at the highest levels. Evidence that national and international stakeholders remain engaged. And evidence that the environment you invested in continues to move, build, and grow.